WACO, Texas ? The University of Kentucky swept a doubleheader today, Feb. 9, in the opening day of play at the Getterman Classic in Waco, Texas. The Wildcats battled back from a seven-run deficit against Stephen F. Austin (1-1) to take their second straight season opener. The teams set a record for runs scored in a game in the Getterman Classic winning by a final of 12-11. In the second game of the day, the Cats then defeated Texas A&M Corpus Christi (0-1) in five innings by a final of 10-0 to improve to 2-0 for the first time since the 2004 season.
Senior Katie Campbell homered in the win over Stephen F. Austin to become the all-time leader at Kentucky with 19 career homers. UK improves to 4-7 all-time in season opening games and has won two straight after defeating No. 13 Washington last season.
The Wildcats came out swinging in the first inning against the Lady Jacks. Leadoff hitter Audrey Meyer hit a single to left and then came around to score when Natalie Smith tripled in her first collegiate at-bat. Smith scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Alli Eckman to give the Cats a 2-0 lead.
The Lady Jacks answered with a seven-spot off six hits in the top of the second to claim a 7-2 lead. SFA made it a 9-2 score when Bria Wilson homered to left field off of UK starter Samantha Allen. Megan Jolly relieved Allen and retired two straight to end the inning.
UK rallied in the bottom of the fourth when senior Brooke Marnitz led off the frame with a triple to left-centerfield. She later scored on a single through the right side by Katie Campbell. Freshman Molly Johnson followed with a single to right, and freshman Becky Bishop drew a base on balls to load the bases for fellow freshman Destinee Mordecai. The Texas native lined a shot down the third base line to drive in a pair of runs and make it a 9-5 score. Mordecai stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Smith beat out an infield single to narrow the lead to 9-6.
Marnitz led off the home half of the fifth with a single and scored on Campbell?s two-run homer over the left field wall to pull within a run at 9-8. With that home run, Campbell is now tied with former Cat Amber Janneck as Kentucky?s all-time leader with 19 career homers.
SFA scored two runs in the top of the sixth to make it an 11-8 game. Freshman Jennifer Young relieved Jolly and after giving up a single to the first batter she faced, got a pair of ground balls to end the inning.
The Wildcats battled back again in the bottom of the sixth. Meyer led off with a walk and went to third on a double to center by Smith. Both runners would come around to score when Marnitz doubled to deep center field to cut the SFA lead to a run at 11-10. Campbell then singled on a blooper to right to put runners on the corners for Johnson who singled to left to score pinch runner Jenny Sibert and tie the game at 11. Bishop followed with a single that fell in front of the SFA left fielder and plated Campbell to give UK its first lead since the first inning at 12-11.
Young went to work in the seventh and struck out the leadoff batter for the first out of the frame. A flyout to Ashley Fertic in left field put the Cats one out away from a comeback win. First baseman Alli Eckman charged and made a diving catch in foul territory in front of the SFA dugout to give the Wildcats their second straight win in a season opener.
Marnitz finished game one with a 4-for-4 performance including two singles, a double and a triple. She also scored twice, stole a base and drove in a pair of runs. Smith added a 3-for-4 day at the dish with two runs scored and two RBI, while Campbell finished 3-for-4 with a homer, two singles, three runs scored and three RBI. Mordecai added a stolen base and two RBI, while leadoff hitter Meyer singled and scored a pair of runs in the Wildcat win.
Young earned her first collegiate win after shutting down the Lady Jacks for 1.2 innings. Young did not allow a hit and struck out won en route to her first victory in the Blue and White. Jolly gave up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts in two innings of work.
Kentucky came out hot in game two as Marnitz added her fifth straight hit of the day, a solo homerun to left field to give the Cats a 1-0 lead. UK added to its lead in the third after Mordecai led off with a double and scored on a fielder?s choice off the bat of Smith. Marnitz and Smith would both score on a two-run single to right by Eckman to give UK a 4-0 lead.
The Wildcats continued to pile it on with six runs in the top of the fifth. Marnitz reached base for the seventh straight plate appearance with her sixth hit of the day when she singled to left. Eckman was hit by the next pitch and went to third when Campbell doubled off the wall in center to score Marnitz. Johnson followed with a three-run homer to left to clear the bases and give the Cats an 8-0 lead. Pinch hitter Ashley Dimkich drove in a pair of runs to make it a 10-0 Wildcat lead after five.
Young (2-0) went to work in the bottom of the fifth and retired the side in order. The Radcliffe, Ky., native gave up just three hits in 5.0 shutout innings of work en route to her second win of the day.
Marnitz went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Campbell doubled twice and drove in a run against the Islanders. Eckman and Dimkich each had a single and two RBI, while Johnson went 1-for-3 with three RBI in the five-inning victory.
The Wildcats return to action tomorrow when they take on Southern Miss (0-1) at 10:30 am. UK will follow that with a 5:15 pm matchup against host team No. 18 Baylor.
